Fifth wheel



(No Model.)

J. G. & L. H. HUPF.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 388,201. Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

Z mwqi WITNESS@ 1/ I v ToRs. 0MM j 2q ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JONATHAN GATES HUFF AND LEMUEL HAMPTON HUFF, OF EAST BEND, N ORTH OAROLTNA.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION .Forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,201, dated August 21, 1888.

Application filed June Q3, 1897. Serial No. 212,290.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, JONATHAN GATEs HUEE and LEMUEL HAMPTON HUEE, citizens of the United States, residing in East Bend, Yadkin county, North Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Combined Fifth-\Vheel and Ooupling,ofwhich the following is a specitication.

This invention is an improvement in buggies, carriages, and like`vehicles, seeking to provide a simple construction of parts,\vhere by to cheapen the cost of such vehicles and at the same time provide improvements in the structure of the fiftlrwheel, front axle, and coupling, in the manner more fully described hereinafter.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novel combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the invention, showing the pereh'pole connection. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the top section of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 3 is adetail view ofthe lower section of such wheel. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper section inverted.

The upper section, A, of the fifth-wheel is grooved ata in its upper side to receive the headblock O, and is provided at its ends with upwardly-projected ears a', which lap on op posite sides ot' the said block, as shown in Fig. l. The section A also has between its ends an upwardly-projected cross-rib, which enters a groove, c, in the head block and operv ates to prevent any endwise movementof such block, which might otherwise occuron the securing-clips becoming loose. To this same end we also provide screw-holes uf through the section A for the passage ol' the screws C into the head-block.

Perforated lugs l) are provided on the section A for the clips (l, which secure the headblock and spring in position, and centrally between its ends we provide the section with perforated lugs E for the yoke f of the perchiron F, which said clips and yoke may be secured by nuts, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the perch-iron and yoke need only be used when a perch-vehicle is desired,

(No model.)

and for sidebar and like work the yokef and iron F may be omitted; but it is preferred to cast the top section to receive the yoke, so it may be employed when desired. Ve form the yokef with a piu or stud, f, to enter a socket, f2, in the under side of the front axleiron, as shown in Fig. 4.

At its central portion the section A is provided with a circular socket, G, formed prefwhich socket receives the circular turn-table portion t' on the lower fifth-wheel section, I. A hole, G', is provided through the section A, leading into socket G, so the turn-table bearing may be lubricated when desired.

The king-bolt Jdepends from the section A concentrically within the socket G, and has usually at its lower end one or more keys or feathers, j, preferably two, arranged diametrically opposite each other, as shown.

The lower fifth-wheel section, I, has its central portion widened to properly provide the turn-table portion Such widened central portion is extended down below the body of the section I, forming lugs i, which (it on oppositc sides of the front axle-iron, K.

An opening, L, is formed through the section I and opens at its lower end into an enlarged recess. From the said opening L we form one or more keyways, Z, for the key or kcysj of the key-bolt. By preference the keybolt and its opening are made tapering, as shown. In operation the top section of the fifth-wheel is turned at right angles to the lower section, bringing the keys j in register with slot l, when the king-bolt may be slipped down through the opening L and the upper section, A, turned to operative position,when the king-bolt will be locked. This locking of the king-bolt, it will be seen, is effected without the use of nuts or other detached fastenings, being secured solely by the formation of the king-bolt and of the lower section of the filth-whcel,which section, it will be seen, forms a socketpiece for the king-bolt, and such term may therefore be properly employed to designate the plate or portion which receives and forms a bearing for the king-bolt.

It is manifest that one or more slots, l, may i be used, also that such slots may be of any deerably by the annular depending flange g, and f ICO sired shape, as We do not desire to limit our invention to any particular shape of slot. In use, if it be desired to detach the front axle, one of the wheels may be removed therefrom and the axle be turned at right angles under the head-block, when the king-bolt may be readily removed. At its lower end the kingbolt bears directly 011 top of the iron portion of the front axle, the bearing for such king bolt being braced and steadied in consequence thereof, as will be readily understood.

The wooden cap of the front axle is formed in short sections M M, having tenons m at their inner ends received in sockets N in the ends of the combined axle-cap and fifth-wheel seetion I. The caps M may be secured in said sockets by screws u, or such screws may be dispensed with, as desired.

By providing the part I to receive the ends of the wooden caps M we are able to use short lengths of wood for forming said caps, and can thereby utilize scraps of wood which would otherwise be wasted.

In carrying out the invention it is our purpose to have the upper and lower fifth-wheel sections cast of malleable metal.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

1. Thecolnbinationot'theaxle-iron,thelower iifth-wheelsection secured thereon and having a king-bolt opening formed through it leading to the axleiron and provided with a keyway or slot, and the upper fifth wheel section having aking-bolt provided with a key fitted to the keyway of the lower seetion,such king bolt being extended through the opening in the lower section and bearing at its lower end on the axle-iron, substantially as set forth.

2. In a vehicle, a central metallic cap-section provided in its end with sockets fitted to receive the inner ends of the wooden axle-cap sections, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the axle-iron, the lower lifth wheel section secured centrally thereto, the axle -cap formed in sections ar ranged on opposite sides of and secured at their inner ends to the lower fifth-wheel section and the upper fifth-wheel section, substantially as set forth.

4. The upper and lower fifth-wheel sections, combined with the perch-iron provided with a yoke having its arms extended upon opposite sides ot' the lower section and secured to the upper section, such yoke being provided with acentral upwardly-projected stnd,f, all being adapted for use substantially as set forth.

5. The improvement in vehicles herein described, eonsisting of the lower section having its ends provided with sockets to receive the ends of the wooden axle cap sections, and provided between its ends with a turn-table portion and concentrically thereof with a kingbolt opening having a keyway or slot, and the upper section having a socket to receive the turntable portion of the lower section and provided with the king-bolt, formed with a key or feather, substantially as set forth.

JONATHAN GATES HUFF. LllMUEL HAMPTON HUFF. \Vit.nesses:

\V. N. Holm, E. W. NAsu. 

